![]() Say their name: Sometimes, just saying their name clearly and directly can get your toddler’s attention effectively. Use short, clear statements: Help your child understand exactly what you’re asking for with simple, direct statements. Similarly, consistency in enforcing those limits is key. Set clear limits that your toddler can comprehend. This will prepare them emotionally and give them time to revert their attention back to you. Give advance verbal warnings before transitions: If you’d like your child to stop watching a show or playing with toys to listen, give them a verbal warning when their activity will end. Here are three tips for parents and caregivers for encouraging toddlers to listen: Want to help your toddler improve their listening skills and prevent conflicts? It all comes down to how you communicate with them. Little Otter is also available in select states to provide evaluation and treatment, as applicable. If your toddler doesn’t respond when you call for them or ask them to do things, it is possible that a medical issue is at play: they may have a hearing impairment, or a developmental disorder like Autism Spectrum Disorder. If you’re worried that something more than typical toddler behavior is impacting their listening, you may want to speak to your pediatrician or child mental health care provider. Some children want to be in control and make it clear that you’re “not the boss.” We’ll offer more guidance on how to navigate these power struggles in a later section with guidance from Claire Lerner, MSW. Most children will reject some efforts to control them in that moment, it’s a matter of their own agency. ![]() Power struggle: If it’s clear that your child is intentionally not listening or cooperating, it’s possible that there’s a power struggle at play. For example, you might say something like, “I like how you put your shoes in the closet when I asked you!” Try to reinforce positive listening skills with praise. Lack of Positive Reinforcement: You haven’t been giving them positive attention when they do listen. ![]() For young children, stopping something pleasurable is often difficult. When you try to speak to them, you are asking them to stop what they are doing, which they consider pleasurable, to listen to you. It’s hard for them to listen to you while they’re doing something else.Įnjoyment: If your child is doing something fun, it may be even more difficult for them to listen. It’s typically better to explain things in shorter, simpler phrases to ensure the toddler can listen more easily.ĭistractions: Usually when children are engaged in an activity, whether watching something, writing, or playing, they are doing so with their full focus. Giving them a list of things to remember can make it difficult for a child to keep track, or dilute the message. That being said, there are a few common reasons why a toddler doesn’t listen to their caregiver:Ĭommunication style: When speaking to a toddler, try to keep your sentences simple. So as we explore why your toddler doesn’t listen, keep in mind that this is a skill they’re still developing - and it’s just one of many they’re working to gain. (This is something you can help them with, as we’ll explore next.) They’re still learning and practicing how to listen. When toddlers “don’t listen,” it’s not necessarily because they’re being defiant or thoughtless. Toddlers are developing every single day. They’re also going to be affected by whether they’re tired or hungry, just like older kids and adults. They feel complex emotions, which they’re still learning how to describe and manage. ![]() This is really hard - after all, they’re rookies!Īt the same time, toddlers are human beings. One of them is learning how to listen and follow instructions. In the toddler years, between ages 1-3, kids are learning to do a lot of new things. Before we dive into reasons why your toddler isn’t listening, it may be helpful to put yourself in their shoes and learn more about their experience.
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